By Hochberg                                      H.R. No. 102

      75R5145 PFG-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The citizens of Houston lost a respected journalist

 1-2     and civic leader with the passing of Jerry J. Ribnick on November

 1-3     23, 1996, at the age of 73; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, While a young man, Mr. Ribnick interrupted his

 1-5     studies at The University of Texas to answer his country's call to

 1-6     arms in World War II, serving in Asia as a tail gunner/radio

 1-7     operator and as a war correspondent; for his display of exceptional

 1-8     valor under fire, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal,

 1-9     and the Distinguished Flying Cross, and he went on to write an

1-10     account of his experiences as a member of the 7th Bomber Group

1-11     during the war; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Returning to Texas, Mr. Ribnick covered high school

1-13     and college sports for the Houston Chronicle and garnered two

1-14     national awards for his writing, including the Associated

1-15     Press/Texas Sportswriter of the Year award in 1952; for more than

1-16     three decades, he and his wife of 43 years, Gloria, successfully

1-17     owned and operated Ribnick & Associates Advertising Agency; and

1-18           WHEREAS, This remarkable gentleman dedicated much of his life

1-19     to civic causes, serving as a board member of numerous worthy

1-20     organizations and completing an exemplary 20-year tenure as a

1-21     Harris County precinct judge; a staunch advocate for the elderly,

1-22     he did much to improve the lot of our state's older citizens as a

1-23     member of the Texas State Board on Aging and the Mayor's Conference

1-24     on Aging, and he also served as a participant in two White House

 2-1     conferences on aging; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, A prominent leader in B'nai B'rith, Mr. Ribnick was

 2-3     the president of the Goldberg B'nai B'rith Towers board of

 2-4     directors for the past 25 years and had received numerous awards

 2-5     for his outstanding charity work; in addition, he was the founder

 2-6     of many popular institutions designed to benefit the community,

 2-7     including the annual Alfred's Charity Dinner, the Houston Jewish

 2-8     Sports Hall of Fame, and the Softball Hall of Fame; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Mr. Ribnick was also a cherished member of the

2-10     Congregation Emanu El where his absence has been deeply felt; and

2-11           WHEREAS, Throughout his life, this admirable gentleman

2-12     exemplified the spirit of hard work, courage, and determination

2-13     that has made this country strong, and he set a standard of public

2-14     service and professional achievement that will continue to serve as

2-15     an inspiration to all those who were privileged to have known him;

2-16     now, therefore, be it

2-17           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-18     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jerry J. Ribnick and

2-19     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his

2-20     beloved wife, Gloria Ribnick; to his son, Greg Ribnick; to his

2-21     daughter and son-in-law, Amelia and Eric Kleiman; to his

2-22     grandchildren, Selena Ribnick and Brett Kleiman; to his sister,

2-23     Rene Hanovich; to his brother, Frank Ribnick; to his

2-24     brother-in-law, Murray Frank; to his nieces and nephews; and to the

2-25     many other friends and relatives of this fine man; and, be it

2-26     further

2-27           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-1     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

 3-2     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

 3-3     Jerry J.  Ribnick.